Can a parent give up their parental rights?

A parent generally cannot simply give up their parental responsibility by choice, as this is considered a fundamental legal obligation. There are some limited circumstances where parental rights and responsibility can be terminated or removed.

A mother will lose parental responsibility if their child is placed for adoption. When a child is legally adopted, both biological parents will lose parental responsibility.

A court can terminate parental responsibility in exceptional circumstances, such as long-term abuse or neglect of the child, or if a parent poses a serious risk to a child’s safety and welfare.

If there are concerns about a parents involvement, a court may choose to restrict how parental responsibility is exercised, rather than remove it entirely.